What is it?

Hi Everyone!

Can anybody help me?  I was innocently inspecting my rue plant in my garden bed, hoping that I just might start finding some Black Swallowtail Butterfly caterpillars on it sometime soon--when I discovered this big thing.  I am suspecting it may be a Praying Mantis egg case, but do not know for sure. . . does anybody know?
If it isn't Praying Mantis, what is it?  And if it IS a Praying Mantis egg case, how long until it hatches out and what do they eat???  I really really really don't want anything eating MY butterfly caterpillars. . .
On the one hand anything from nature is potential good home school science material.  But NOT if it is something that is going to eat my butterfly caterpillars!!!

Whatever it is, does anybody know if it would be a good thing to bring inside in a container and watch for science class?  And how small would the critters be when they hatch--exactly how small do the air holes on my containers have to be to prevent escapees in the house?

Thanks for any help that you can give!

~Susan

Periodic Table of the Elements--Lego style!

Hi Everyone!

Just thought I would share a fun little something with you today. . .

With me being a trained elementary school teacher, and my hubby being a college level teacher, there are some interesting things that come up in our home every now and then!  So when my hubby came home the other day with a twinkle in his eye and telling me that he had something I was going to LOVE, well, I went right over to see what it was he had to show me.  His area of specialty is Chemistry--let's just say it was NOT my favorite area when I was in school--but he knows how I love things that make learning fun for children.  Well, his "show and tell" that he had for me that day was this link--a link to a Lego Periodic Table of the Elements.  Yes, you read that correctly.  So follow the link below, and go have FUN with Chemistry! :)

http://sites.arbor.edu/legoelements/

Have fun exploring!

~Susan

Come!

Come.

I have always been interested in Bible Memory.  Interested--but not successful.

Alright, so I have memorized verses here and there.  Beautiful verses.  Promises from God to me.  But there was always a problem.  As fast as I memorized them--I forgot them.  Or forgot where they were found.

Then in January I ran across an article on-line that was talking about Bible Memory.  My  ears perked up.  The article talked about how this person had the same problem as me--she would always forget where the verses she memorized were located as well.  And then she talked about what had solved her problem.

She stopped memorizing verses.

And started memorizing chapters.

I was shocked.  I mean, if I couldn't memorize verses, how in the world was I supposed to memorize whole entire chapters?  I mean, I am failing on the little stuff--don't trust me with the big stuff!

But then this article went on to explain that she didn't even try to remember individual verse locations any more.  She just memorized the entire chapter and then remembered the chapter number.  Which made a lot of sense to me--I mean, after all, if I can get to the right chapter, I can find the verse I am looking for.

I still wasn't sure I could do it.

But I had to try.

So armed with some verse cards printed out and laminated, I set out to find a spot to post them where I would see them every day.  I finally settled on the bathroom mirror.  After all, I would certainly look there each day.  And if I read the verse each time I looked, maybe--just maybe--that verse would start to dig it's way into my mind.

Each week a new verse was added.  After awhile my husband started dropping subtle hints about how he DID need just a bit of the mirror left so he could see himself in it.

Which made me think--wouldn't it be wonderful if we were so filled with God's Word that when people looked at us all they could see was Him?

Soon I added a laminated page with all thirteen verses onto the wall in my shower, and a second laminated page with first letter helps only on the opposite wall.  Soap up--read the verses.  Rinse off--turn around and quiz using the first letter helps.

And before long, I started to notice something.
If I woke up during the night, I would start thinking "Come."
If I felt bad about something during the day, "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!"
If I rushed into my day and cut short my quiet time, "Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?"

Slowly.  Almost without any movement at all--Isaiah 55 started to work it's way into my heart.

"Come."

"Everyone who thirsts."

"He who has no money."

"Seek the Lord while he may be found."

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts."

"It shall not return to me empty."

"For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace."

Throughout the entire chapter God is calling me.  God is calling you.

"Come."

~Susan

Lilla Rose Spring Sale!

Hi Everyone!

Just wanted to tell you all real quick about a Lilla Rose sale that is going on.  Usually these sales last only one day, so they are almost over before I even get a chance to tell you about them!  This one is a bit different, because it is going on for three days, so that gives me a chance to tell you!

As I have mentioned on here before, I am an independent consultant for Lilla Rose.  I only sell them through my web site link--I do not do home parties or trade shows.  And I ONLY became a consultant because my daughter and I  loved wearing Lilla Rose things so much!  I had to do SOMETHING to get a bit of a discount on them, because we loved them so much we wanted to buy almost ALL that were available!  Anyway, if you think they are pretty like I do, I would love it if you would use my link to go look around my web site.  I have been wearing the clips I have almost daily ever since last October, and I am just as much in love with them now as I was when I first discovered them!

http://www.lillarose.biz/SusansSpot/index.html?id=6SBw6hd5

Have fun drooling--I mean, looking around! :)

~Susan

But I Can't Afford Adventist College! ( Or Can I?)

Surprise everyone!

Yes--I really am still here.  I just haven't been slowing down long enough to post on my blog lately!  But I will try to do better, really!

One thing I HAVE done is guest post on the topic of affording Adventist college.  So if your children are rapidly growing up and your stomach is starting to turn in knots whenever you pause and think about all the dollars required to fund Adventist college education these days, head over here for some encouragement! :)

http://sdahomeschools.com/but-i-cant-afford-adventist-college-or-can-i/

And in the meantime, get outside and enjoy some Spring!

~Susan